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South Carolina Women’s Basketball Coach Dawn Staley said she would have taken New York Knick’s main coach if it had been offered.
Staley, 55, interviewed for the position before Knicks hired Mike Brown in July.
“I would have had to do that. Not just for me. For women. To break (it dies) open,” said Staley at the podcast “Post Moves”. “I would have had to. It’s New York Knicks. I’m from Philly. But it’s they freaking new york knicks.”
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South Carolina Gamecock’s main coach Dawn Staley responds during the first quarter of a semi -final of NCAA women’s tournament against Texas Longhorns in Amalie Arena on April 4, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. (Ray Seebeck/Imag- Pictures)
Staley was one of many candidates who Knicks interviewed for their head coaching position. Knicks also interviewed former Charlotte Hornets coach James Borrego, former Memphis Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins and Minnesota Timberwolves Assistant Micah Nori.
Staley said she thought she was doing well in the interview but asked if she was injuring her chances by asking Knicks how they would handle the effect of hiring NBA’s first female head coach.
“How, if you hired me as the first female head coach of the NBA, would affect your daily job? Because it would,” Staley said. “You’re going to be asked questions that you don’t have to answer if you’re a male trainer. There will be the media and all this other things that you should tackle that you didn’t have to tackle and don’t have to tackle when you hire a man. It made them think, ‘Maybe she’s right.'”
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South Carolina Gamecock’s main coach Dawn Staley responds during the first half of the national championship game in NCAA Women’s Tournament against Connecticut Huskies in the Amalie Arena on April 6, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. (Nathan Ray Seebeck/Imag- Pictures)
She said she felt the change of energy after her questions.
“So I shot myself in the foot by being curious and asking all these Darn questions,” Staley said.
The University of South Carolina Women’s Basketball Trainer Dawn Staley answers a question from moderator Dan Hughes under the University of Mount Union’s Schools Lecture Speaker Series on April 23, 2025 in Alliance, Ohio. (IMagn)
Staley is one of the most successful college -basketball trainer over time. She has won three national championships, reached seven Final Fours and was named AP Coach of the Year twice.
She has a career record of 647-190, good for a .773 winning percentage. She coached in Temple for eight seasons before coming to South Carolina ahead of the 2008-09 season and is ready to enter her 18th season with Gamecocks.
